Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

R aj

My body aches from the transformation, muscles still raw from the battle with Felicity's ex. I sit on her couch, feeling like a wounded animal. Felicity's gentle hands tend to my wounds, her touch soft but sure. I can't keep this from her anymore. She deserves to know the truth.

"Felicity," I begin, my voice rough and tired, every word a struggle against the pain coursing through my body. Her gentle touch is the only thing keeping me grounded.

Her hazel eyes, filled with concern and curiosity, lock onto mine. "What is it, Raj?" she asks softly, her fingers pausing on the bandage she's securing.

"I need to tell you something," I say, holding her gaze, knowing this moment could change everything. "About what you saw tonight." My heart pounds in my chest, the weight of my secret pressing down on me. "There's more to me than you know."

She nods, her hands never faltering in their gentle care. "Go on. "

"I'm not, just a man," I admit, feeling the weight of the secret I've carried for so long. "I'm a weretiger. I can shift between human and weretiger forms."

Her hands pause for a heartbeat, then resume their soothing ministrations. "So that's why you transformed? To protect me?"

"Yes," I reply, relief and anxiety knotting in my chest. "I couldn't stand by and let him hurt you."

Her eyes soften, and she doesn't pull away. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I was afraid," I confess, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "Afraid you'd be scared or reject me if you knew the truth."

She places a hand on my cheek, her touch warm and reassuring, grounding me in the moment. "Raj, you risked your life for me. Why would I reject you for that?"

"You deserve someone normal," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper, the vulnerability of the admission taking its toll.

"Normal is overrated," she says with a small, comforting smile. "And besides, I've never felt safer than when I'm with you."

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding less fiercely now but still aware of the enormity of my revelation. "I didn't want you to see me as a monster," I say, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "I've kept this part of me hidden for so long, but with you... I couldn't anymore."

She leans in closer, her hazel eyes locking onto mine with unwavering intensity. "You're not a monster, Raj. That's what matters to me."

At that moment, I realize just how much I've come to care for her. My instincts scream to protect her, but my heart yearns for her trust and acceptance. "You're stronger than you know," I whisper, my gaze never leaving hers.

"And you're more human than you think," she replies softly, her smile radiating a warmth that chases away my lingering doubts.

For so long, I've hidden this part of myself, fearing rejection and isolation. But here she is, accepting me without hesitation, warmth radiating from her touch.

"Thank you," I manage to say, emotion thick in my throat. It's a simple phrase, but it carries the weight of my gratitude and relief.

She leans in closer, her bright hazel eyes locking onto mine, her face inches away. "No more secrets between us, okay?" Her voice is soft but firm, a promise and a plea wrapped in one.

"Okay," I agree, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders, and for the first time, I allow myself to hope that maybe, just maybe, this could work.

Her lips brush against mine in a tender kiss, sealing our newfound understanding. It's gentle yet electrifying, a quiet reassurance that we're in this together. At this moment, I'm not just a weretiger or a comedian; I'm hers, and she's mine.

And for the first time in years, I feel whole again. The beast inside me purrs contentedly, recognizing its mate.

Her lips are soft against mine, sweet and urgent. I can't hold back any longer. Overcome with emotion, I pull Felicity deeper into the kiss, my hands cradling her face as if she's the most precious thing in the world.

She responds eagerly, her fingers tangling in my hair, drawing me closer. The intensity between us ignites like wildfire, our breath mingling, our bodies pressing together. I feel the heat rising, my heart racing at how unafraid she is of my weretiger form. It's as if she sees me, all of me, and accepts every part.

With a low growl of need, I lift her effortlessly into my arms, the beast within me roaring with approval. She clings to me, her eyes filled with trust and desire. The connection between us is palpable, electric. As I carry her to the bedroom, I can feel her heartbeat syncing with mine, a rhythm that's both soothing and exhilarating.

Setting her down gently on the bed, I hover over her, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks and parted lips. The room is filled with the scent of her, intoxicating and inviting. Her gaze holds mine, unwavering, and in this moment, there's no doubt in my mind—she's my mate, and I'll protect her with everything I am.

"Raj," she breathes out my name, her voice barely audible, yet it resonates within me, stirring a primal desire that courses through my veins. Her soft whisper is both a plea and a promise, awakening the beast within me, making it harder to hold back.

I capture her lips again, this time with an urgency that reflects my growing need for her. My hands wander, tracing the contours of her body, reveling in the softness that yields beneath my touch. She responds, arching towards me, her own hunger mirroring mine as her fingers tangle into my hair, pulling me closer.

Our clothes, once a necessary shield, now serve as an unwanted obstacle. We shed them hastily, driven by a mutual yearning to explore each other more intimately. Our hands explore the freshly revealed skin, our mouths searching and discovering. The connection between us crackles, each caress sending jolts of electricity coursing through my veins, each kiss igniting a flame that threatens to consume me.

"You're mine," I murmur against her skin, my voice rough with possession and tenderness, my weretiger instincts roaring in agreement.

"Yes," she whispers, her voice a sweet surrender that echoes in the room, as she entwines her legs around me, drawing me closer. Her trust and desire intertwine, weaving a spell around my heart, making it pound with a primal rhythm. My weretiger instincts roar in approval, urging me to claim her as mine, to protect her from all harm. But it's not just the beast within me that yearns for her, it's me, Raj, the man who's been captivated by her beauty, her strength, and her resilience.

I plunge into her in a single, fluid motion, both of us gasping as the incredible sensation envelops us. The world fades away until there's only us with every powerful thrust a testament to her importance, an unspoken pledge carved into each movement. The heat of our connection sears into my very being, making it impossible to think of anything but her.

Our bodies synchronize in a frenzied yet gentle rhythm, a dance of desire and connection. Each caress, each ragged breath is a vow that we are no longer alone, that this bond between us is genuine and unyielding. The intensity of our union resonates through my weretiger instincts, roaring with satisfaction and fierce protectiveness. I feel my animal side urging me to protect, to cherish, to never let her go.

Her nails rake down my back, and I respond with a deep growl, my lips finding hers in a searing kiss. It's more than just physical; it's an affirmation of everything we are to each other. Every touch, every shared breath, pulls us closer, binding us in a way that transcends words.

Felicity's moan echoes my name, a sound that stokes the embers of desire burning within me. My weretiger instincts roar in approval, urging me to claim her as mine, but I hold back, focusing on giving her a pleasure that transcends the physical. Her fingers dig into my back, each scratch a testament to her passion, spurring me on as we surrender to the intensity of our connection. Our bodies entwine, we lose ourselves in each other, our hearts beating in sync as we dance on the edge of ecstasy.

Our bodies synchronize in a flawless rhythm, a dance of passion and urgency, each movement a desperate plea to be closer, even as we're entwined as one. We communicate in a language that transcends words, our desires and affections echoing in every touch, every caress. Her breath mingles with mine, creating a symphony of shared longing. Each stroke of her fingers, each press of her lips, speaks to me in ways that words never could. The room fades away, leaving only the heat between us, the raw, unfiltered connection that binds us together.

Our climax hits like a crescendo, a crash of ecstasy that leaves us both breathless, our bodies quivering in the aftermath. I collapse beside her, pulling Felicity into my embrace, our limbs still tangled together. Her head finds solace on my chest, and for the first time in what feels like forever, a sense of tranquility washes over me, calming the restless beast within.

In this moment, nothing else exists but the woman beside me, the one who accepted all of me, the man and the beast, without an ounce of hesitation. Her fingers trace lazy patterns on my skin, and I feel an overwhelming sense of peace, a rare stillness that quiets the constant roar of my weretiger instincts. I kiss the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair, and I know that I would do anything to protect this connection, this fragile yet unbreakable bond we've forged.